A Radical "Yes" and the Return to Roots
The turning point came during graduate school in New York City. A close friend invited me to church, and from the first worship song to the final amen, I was flooded by the overwhelming, unconditional love of the Father. For the first time, the "performance" ended.
I gave my wholehearted "yes" to Jesus, and He began to fast-track my spiritual journey. Through intentional discipleship and authentic community, I moved from knowing about God to personally knowing Jesus as my Lord and Savior. This season ignited a deep call toward vocational ministry and a desire to reach the next generation.
This calling eventually led me back to my roots. Although it had been 20 years since I had visited Taiwan—the country my parents emigrated from—stepping back onto that soil on a mission trip felt like a homecoming. The Lord placed a specific burden on my heart for the Taiwanese people that I couldn't ignore.
In 2013, I moved across the world with an eager heart, holding onto the words of William Carey: “Expect great things from God; Attempt great things for God!”
The Journey Through the Secret Place
With over a decade of experience in ministry and nonprofit leadership in Taiwan, my journey has been a profound evolution from "performing" for God to finding deep, authentic rest in His presence. My path has been marked by seasons of intense spiritual refinement, leading me to a place where I now help others navigate the complexities of identity, shame, and emotional healing.
In 2016, following a season of traumatic church division and personal isolation, I was forced to strip away my reliance on external structures. It was in the secret place that I learned to fully cling to God as my refuge and pour out my honest emotions to Him. Through this, Jesus secured my confidence and healed years of accumulated emotional wounds and ungodly beliefs, delivering me from a spirit of fear.
Breaking the Silence
A pivotal turning point came in 2018 through Nothing Hidden Ministries’ Single Life Workshop. Despite a "perfect" exterior, I carried deep shame regarding a hidden struggle with a sexual addiction and confusing fantasies. By vulnerably bringing these secrets into the light, I experienced a level of freedom I never thought possible. This breakthrough birthed a passion for sharing my testimony across Taiwan, encouraging believers to live "nothing hidden" lives rooted in the truth of 1 John 1:6–9.
Creating Homes for the Heart
My desire to connect with people outside traditional church walls eventually led me to a Taipei-based nonprofit, SALT Collectiv, where I served as Community Manager. My mission was to create "homes for the heart"—intentional, safe spaces where marginalized communities and volunteers alike could unite under a shared purpose and experience authentic connection. My heart thrived in seeing people empowered through a genuine sense of belonging.
A Call to the Frontlines: Joyful Journeys
While I was building "homes for the heart" for others, I began to realize how much I lacked a safe space of my own on the mission field. In recent years, I navigated a dark night of the soul, grappling with feelings of depression, isolation, entitlement and a profound sense of hopelessness. I knew firsthand the weight of the "silent struggle"—the pressure to remain a pillar of strength for others while feeling spiritually and emotionally bankrupt inside.
This lived experience is what draws me to Joyful Journeys. I understand the unique exhaustion of missional work and the critical need for support systems that actually see the person behind the position. Having walked through the valley of burnout and emerged with a restored heart, I am uniquely equipped and deeply excited to support other missional workers. I want to be the advocate and safe harbor I needed during my years on the field.
From Doing to Being
The most recent chapters of my story have focused on inward formation over outward achievement. After navigating burnout and a performance mentality, I have spent the last few years in counseling and Metaformation’s Encounter Coaching. These experiences have dismantled my false identities and old mindset, teaching me that Jesus cares far more about sharing life together than about me making the "perfect" decision.
Today, I’m dedicated to fostering spaces of restoration where intimacy with Jesus isn't replaced by ministry, but serves as the very heartbeat of it. My path has led me to the world of life coaching. Looking back, the thread of my life has always circled around the ministry of presence—processing the deep things of the heart, serving the community, and building others up in Christ.
My passion is to walk alongside individuals as they navigate their own journeys toward healing and wholeness. It is my greatest honor to serve God’s family in this generation, helping others trade their "masks" for the true identity and freedom found in Him.
Foundations and Early Faith
Born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia to first-generation Chinese immigrant parents, my early life was a tapestry of Catholic values and traditional Chinese culture. As the youngest in my family—with a ten-year age gap between my brother and me—I grew up feeling deeply nurtured and protected.
From a young age, I had an innate sense of God’s presence. I attended an all-girls Catholic school where good morals and a strong value system were instilled in me; for a long time, I never had a reason to question His goodness. I was sensitive to the spiritual realm, even before I had the language to describe the relationship I was sensing.
The Silence of Grief and the Mask of Performance
Everything changed at fourteen when my mother passed away from breast cancer. The loss felt sudden and impossible to process. In my grief, I blamed God and attempted to rebel, but the "Catholic in me" still feared Him enough to try and stay on His good side.
I began a decade-long cycle of "performing" as the good daughter, the star student, and the likable friend. I sought security in unhealthy relationships and social status, wearing various masks to please everyone around me. It was an exhausting attempt to fill a growing void, and by age 25, I reached a state of total hopelessness and brokenness
Joyful Journeys | About Me
Meet Bertina
Joyful Journeys | About Me
Passions & Interests Outside of coaching, I am a firm believer in the restorative power of beauty and presence. I am an avid photographer and traveler, always seeking to capture the light of God in different cultures. I find my own "wholeness" through hiking, tennis, and cycling, or in the quiet rhythm of journaling over a cup of tea. I am passionate about hospitality, cooking, and event planning, viewing every meal and gathering as a sacred opportunity to cultivate a space where people feel truly at home.
